a date night sent from Heaven

We celebrated our anniversary tonight. 4 days early because it really didn't feel like there was any other choice. I was in charge this year since Ben is the one making plans for my birthday. I knew where I wanted to go, but I had a little bit of a hard time tracking down the phone number since I didn't know the downtown Radisson had turned into a Crowne Plaza. After a few internet searches, I called to make the reservation a couple days ago at Le Carousel restaurant in St. Paul. But they did not give me the option of a Sunday night reservation.

"The restaurant closes on Wednesday" she said. For good. The famous revolving restaurant on the 22nd floor of what used to be the Radisson and is now the Crowne Plaza will exist no more. She patiently attempted to answer my many questions in her broken English as I fought back tears. "You mean we won't even be able to ride the elevator to the top?" It was in the elevator that Ben got down on his knee, and now the elevator will be closed too. Tonight was the fourth and last time I rode in that elevator. The first was with my dad. He gave me a purity necklace and a heartfelt letter on my 13th birthday. The second time was the night Ben proposed to me, and the third was our 4th anniversary. Or was it our 2nd? Wow how time flies.

I was so sad to find this out and yet so relieved that I called just in time. I had 2 days to find a babysitter and get us to that restaurant to celebrate. I struggled with the decision of whether to go there for dinner or just dessert. It is so expensive...dessert would mean paying less, but having to go to another restaurant first and then paying an additional $20 for more sugar we don't need. I decided that even though we couldn't afford it we should just make it our dinner - I would order a salad, for only $15 - $20. Ben could order whatever he wanted and we'd just keep praying for the pending promotion... :)

After leaving directions with a new babysitter, we were running late of course but we headed down to St Paul. Ben can't handle surprises and asked questions on the way, trying to get a hint. "Is this at a restaurant on top of the Radisson?" "Nope!" I said, suddenly glad the Crowne Plaza had taken over the hotel... "Good guess, though!" "Is this at a restaurant on top of the Crowne Plaza?" he smiled 20 minutes later, as we waited at the stoplight right in front of the hotel.

We arrived at 6:35 for our 6:15 reservation - the PERFECT time. Because even as I continued to question my decision to buy dinner instead of just dessert, as we stepped off the elevator an old lady who was getting on offered us a coupon. "It's worth $26" she said. Buy-one-get-one-free entrees, tonight for the "last spin on the Carousel". I was shocked. After the elevator door closed and she was gone, I SO wanted to chase her down and give her a hug. She'll never know how much she made my night.

On top of that, the waitress asked if we were there for any special occasion. She offered us a free dessert!

Thank you, God for affirming our anniversary plans. We couldn't have made it through the last 7 years without you.